Summary Of Paul's View On Slavery

Thesis: Paul subtle hints that he does not condone slavery, but it does not outright defy the practice. He uses it many times as a helpful analogy for Christian life, and he encourages believer to stay enslaved it if will help their witness. Paul encourages believers to view everyone as equal, and to stay in whatever position will help them spread the gospel.

Because of the time Paul lived in his view on slavery would be different than what his view on modern slavery might be, additionally it is difficult to obtain information about the plight of slaves in the first century because many of the resources written about them we written by the slave owners instead of the slaves. (Harrill 1, 2000) This could have skewed the information available today. Scholars either believe that slavery was a moral and ethical practice or it was inhuman as it is in modern times. (Bartchy, 1997)

However, biblical scholars do agree that slaves were able to complete the same types of jobs that other freemen could do as well. They were able to be a part of any economic group, and they could have any job from physician to shopkeepers

to magicians to ordinary laborers. Some slaves could accumulate much wealth. This leads many scholars to argue that slavery might not have been as negative of practice as it is in modern times. (Harrill 1, 2000)
Paul’s main focus in talking about slavery in the New Testament is ensure that Christians know they should not be in slavery to sin. He wants us to be free from any slavery that would keep them from serving Christ. In Galatians 5:1 he says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Because Paul refers to slavery as a yoke it is hard to think that slavery was not a negative practice at least at times in the first century. From his references in his letters, I think that he did not view slavery as a positive thing. He drops subtle hints that he does not approve of the practice of slavery in 1 Timothy 1, “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.”
Paul includes slave owners in his list of those who the law is created to help change. This shows that he had a very negative view of slavery, although he did not want to come outright and say it. He dropped this subtle hint in the middle of a long list of groups of sinners to show that he didn’t approve.
In Romans 6, Paul uses slavery as a metaphor to how we should behave as Christians. He says, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” Paul encourages Christians to view themselves as slaves to sin. This analogy is illuminating for our relationships with God because it shows us that we should value our new position in Christ as his slaves.
I think that although slavery could be seen as a negative or derogatory practice in the first century, Paul’s metaphor is not perceived that way because of the prevalence of slavery at that time. Slaves also made up 1/3rd of the population and a much larger percentage had been enslaved earlier in their lives, so when Paul was writing his letter many of his readers could possibly be slaves or former slaves. This could have affected the way he was writing the letter. If he had made a bold statement about his views on slavery, he might have challenged the comfortable positions of people in slavery who were thriving. Also, in the first century not many people were questioning the practice of slavery. If the people he was writing to were happy and being treated well and he condemned their jobs, then they would be very confused and worse off not being a slave. Many slaves could have been active in their faith, and leaving that position would hinder their spreading the gospel more than helping it. (Bartchy, 1997)
In Titus 2:9-11 Paul talks about slaves, but he also uses these verses to equalize all people under Christ. He says, “Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” At first I only looked at verse 9-10, but I think what Paul says in the next verse relates well to the idea of slaves as well. He is saying that all people, slaves or free, are equal in God’s eyes and can be saved. This is critical for Paul’s view of slaves. He does not view them as lesser or not as important in the kingdom of God, therefore I think he would condone slavery in the world that hurt the dignity of another person. He would not support derogatory slavery.
Paul talks about slaves and master in Ephesians 6:5-9, “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.” In this verse it may see that Paul is contradicting the other things he has said about slavery, but he is actually lining up with them. His wants to show that every slave should have a positive witness to those who are not

believers.
1 Timothy 6:1-2 says, “Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.” This points back to Paul’s desire for slaves to continue in their servanthood as a matter of witness. He recognizes that slaves can have a very positive effect on a people, even if they may seem subservient. However, they are valuable for the spread of the gospel.